The Churches & the Britain & Europe referendum, 1975 – Dr Robert Saunders

On 5 June 1975 voters went to the polls in Britain’s first national referendum, on membership of the European Community. Backed by the General Synod, the British Council of Churches and much of the religious press, “Christians for Europe” issued prayers, held services and preached sermons on the merits of European integration. This paper asks why the churches were so enthusiastically European and what this might tell us about their theology and practice.